Whenever someone opens a gift, one of the first questions that must be answered is “What is it?” The anticipation of that answer is unmistakable, right? And usually, once the gift is opened, it’s pretty easy to answer the question.
If what we see determines what is important, we fall into the sins of pride and comparison. Worst of all, we will miss the most important work of God.
Has it happened yet? Has Christmas fatigue already set in? Maybe not quite yet as Christmas is a week away. But we’re awfully close aren’t we? Do you feel those burdens starting to pile up?
If you didn’t already know the story and you just started reading at verse 57, you wouldn’t see anything unusual. It’s totally normal for neighbors and relatives to rejoice with a new mother at the birth of a child.
I’d like to start out this sermon with some material from the well known theologians: Calvin and Hobbs. In this strip, there’s the bully Moe who is always taking things away from Calvin.
It’s hard to overstate the importance of Moses in the Bible. Through God’s power he brought plagues upon Egypt, led God’s people out of slavery, parted the Red Sea, spoke with the Lord on Mt. Sinai, received the 10 commandments…
Is there any single event in our lives that we prepare for more on an annual basis as Christmas? If you stop and think about it, Christmas preparations begin before Thanksgiving.
This story is told in such a matter of fact kind of way, that it’s easy to miss just how remarkable it is. You see, it’s the backstory that maybe some of us don’t remember that makes this story so compelling.
It’s been surprising to me how quickly people have moved on from the tragic and heinous event in Waukesha last Sunday. It only happened 7 days ago, just one week, and yet I don’t see the wall-to-wall coverage that so much other drivel gets.
This painting is “The Angelus” by Jean Francois Millet. The setting sun shows that the day’s work is drawing to a close.
Eastside Evangelical Lutheran Church and School
2310 Independence Lane
Madison, WI 53704
